The YCW is a movement of education through action based on the experiences young workers live. The starting point of YCW is personal and collective situations that the young workers live in everyday life and the values that are contradictory to their beliefs and aspirations that exist in the society.

"Global Summit of Young Workers calls for
Decent Work on the streets of India"

"We demand a social protection system that includes the right to permanent work with decent conditions", says Thiruvalluvar Yovel, International President of the IYCW.

The global summit of the international Young Christian Workers' movement, began today with an march and public opening program in Thanjavur, located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Among the public were more than 60 young worker delegates, representing countries of all four continents of the movement, who will be gathering during two weeks of meeting and exchange, to reflect on their current reality of work in a rapidly globalising society.

Ruby, aged 21 years from Kulimatoor, is a young women worker and leader of a base group of the YCW in India.
"I was working for two years as an agricultural worker. My responsibilities were to sow the paddy, remove weeds and reap the harvest. I worked 7 to 8 hours per day without a break, and I was paid only 30 rupees per day by the landlord.
There is no protection from the snakes, worms and scorpians, and many workers died at work. We took action to demand an increase in the salary, and we received an increase to 40 rupees per day, but it is still not enough to live on.
Our action needs to continue."

Says Mr Yovel, "We are a social movement with a vision for a new society. We want the young workers of India to become aware of their own reality, and we want the world to become of the growing insecurity and unacceptable conditions of work and life". The IYCW invited all participants in the rally and meeting to join together in action and called for support from decision makers at all levels to ensure the possibility of a decent future of work for young workers.

Todays public march and rally forms part of the global summit which will take place between September 29th and October 15th, and which includes a local exchange and exposure program in Thanjavur district concerning the specific reality of the dalit caste of India, the situation of young women workers, and an experience of life of young workers in the unorganised sector of informal work.

The Belgian based IYCW movement, has been an international movement for more than 50 years, and is present in over 35 countries worldwide. This international event in India, coincides with the 'World Day for Decent Work', taking place on October 7th, a day in which worker groups and social movements with a common vision, will give attention to the precarious reality of workers and demand action.